Playing ball



Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STTES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to playing balls of the type that is appropriate-tor the games of bask-etbalLvvolley ball, soccer and'football.

Balls of this4 character are preferably leathercovered and are usuallyreinforced with .an inner carcass formed of fabric and in-ilated bymeans of a rubber bladder within the carcass.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improvedconstruction for inflatable playing balls, particularly those that arecovered with a casing of thick lea-ther whereby the finished ball willbe provided with improved means facilitating its being gripped by theplayer, taking in-to account the fact that the diameter of balls of thetype referred to are usually large compared to the span of the playershand; to provide a leather-covered inflatable ball structure wherein thecarcass is so formed as to provide outstanding ridges extending beyondthe spheroidal surface of .the leather covering to enable the player togrip the ball with one hand; and to provide an improved construction ofthis kind in which the surface texture of the ridges is such as will oerfrictional resistance to the slipping of the players ngers somewhatgreater than the resistance afforded by the surface of the leathercasing.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an endwise view in perspective of an elongated spheroidalball of the type used in football games and constructed according tothis invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the carcass of the ball taken on aplane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ball, and alsovshowing the inated bladder within the carcass.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the carcass.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the carcass illustrating thearrangement of the latex coating that is applied to the outer surface ofthe carcass before applying the louter casing.

Fig 5 is a sectional detail of a casing panel showing its inner surfaceand marginal edges coated with latex prior to being applied to thesurface of the carcass.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the `finished ball.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through one of the ridge joints,substantially as Yshown in Fig. 6 but on a larger scale.

In the form shown in the drawing, the carcass l is made up of aplurality of section-s 2 each made up of a plurality of layers of fabriccemented together with latex and then cut to appropriate size andcontour to produce the desired spheroidal shell form when sewn togetheralong their marginal edges and inflated.

`The sections 2 of the carcass are then sewn together at their marginaledges by stitching 3, so as to provide outstanding seams Il formingridges of uniform height on the surface of the carcass. Before the last`seam is closed, a rub.- ber bladder 5 is inserted into the interior ofthe carcass with the valve nipple 6. extending through a perforationpreviously made in the carcass for this purpose an-d the bladder isicemented to the carcass in a limited circular area 6.! around the valvenipple.

The carcass is also provided with an internal flap shown at 'I in Fig.2. This flap is stitched at 8 along one of its longitudinal edges to theadjacent wall of the carcass :and is located directly `opposite thevalve and serves the double purpose yoi counter-balancing the weight ofthe valve and of providing a protective flap covering a slit that may bemade in this vicinity when repair of the ball at some future time makesit necessary to cut a lacing slit into the casing for the removal of thebladder.

After the carcass is completed the bladder is inflated and the carcassis stretched to its final form, preferably within :a mold at pressuremuch higher than normal playing pressures.

Before removal from the mold the pressure within the bladder is reducedtothe normal playing pressure of [-3 pounds per square inch. Then theentire outer surface of the carcass is coated with a thick layer 9 oflatex which is extended over and 'around the outstanding seams so as tocompletely impregnate and cover these and form solid ridges with smoothrounded crests.

The leather casing which is applied to the eX- terior surface of thecarcass consists of a plurality of panel pieces l!) appropriately shapedtofit the respective carcass surface areas between the ridges with theedges of the panels abutting the sides Vof the ridges formed by thecoated projecting seam margins of the carcass sections. Each leatherpanel portion has a coating of latex I l covering its inner face andskived marginal edges.

The ridges 4 which are formed by the coated outstanding seams of thecarcass are of sufficient height and appropriately formed to provideround crested ridges projecting a little distance bey-ond the outerspheroidal surface of the casing of the ball, after the latter iscompleted by cementing the panels I0 in place between the ridges 4.

With Va football of present day standard form and dimensions, if itssurface is divided by ridges into siX longitudinal sectors, the ridgeswill be properly located to facilitate its being caught and grasped inone hand of the player with a degree of security that is of great helpin avoiding fumbling and in facilitating lcertain plays.

Although but one s-pecic embodiment of this invention is herein shownand described, it will be understood that details of the constructionshown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of theinvention as dened by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An inflatable playing ball, comprising a fabric carcass made up of aplurality of body sections marginally stitched together with outstandingseams, means impregnating :and covering said seams to form solid ridges,and an outer Wear-resisting casing of sheet material comprising panels`cement-ed upon and conforming to the surface areas of the carcassbounded by said ridges, 4the edges of said panels abutting against thesides of said ridges.

2. An inflatable playing ball, -comprising a fabric carcass made .up ofa plurality of body sections'marginally stitched together withoutstanding seams, a coating of latex lling and covering said lseams toform solid ridges, and. an outer wear-resisting casing of sheet materialcomfthe surface areas of lthe carcass bounded by said ridges, the edgesof said panels abutting against the sides of said ridges.

3. An inflatable playing ball, comprising a fabri-c carcass made up ofsections marginally stitched together with outstanding seams formingridges, a coating of latex covering said carcass and filling said seamswhereby the said ridges are rendered rm and smooth, and Wear-resistingface panels conforming to the surface areas of the carcass bounded bysaid ridges, each of said panels being coated on its inner side andedges with latex whereby they are securely held in place adherently, andthe edges of said panels being skived to t snugly against the sides ofsaid ridges.

4. An inflatable playing ball, "comprising a fabric carcass made up of aplurality of body sections marginally stitched together with outstandingseams, a coating consisting of a relatively thick layer of lateximpregnating the fabric carcass and filling and covering said seams toprevent ravelin-g of the fabric and to form solid ridges, and an outerwear-resisting casing of sheet material comprising panels cemented uponand conforming to the surface areas of the carcass bounded by saidridges, the edges of said panels abutting against the sides of saidridges at the base thereof and 'the ridges projecting beyond the outersurfaces of said panels.

JOHN T. RIDDELL.

CERTIFICATE oF CRRECTION. Patent No. 2,2hlh5o5. June 5, 19m.

JOHN T. RIDDELL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered' patent reqiiring correction as follows: Page 2,first column, line 52, claim 2,V after the syllable "com" insert thesyllable and words --prisng panels cemented upon 'and conforming to; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed'ths lst day of July, A. D. l9ll.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

